ChennaiMumbai

There are plenty of tourist places to visit in Mumbai. If you are a fan of scenic sea faces, visit Bandra Bandstand, Worli Sea Face and Marine Drive. A backdrop of multiple Bollywood films, Marine Drive has a place in the heart of every Mumbaikar and is one of the best places to watch the sunrise and sunset in the city.

The Gateway of India, an ‘arch’aeological wonder, was built during the British rule and is a hot spot for tourists, street vendors, amateur photographers and balloon sellers. Any trip to Mumbai would be incomplete without a visit to Elephanta Island. You can take a ferry ride to this UNESCO World Heritage Site and bask in the remarkable temple carvings.

Mumbai Darshan tours are best experienced on double-decker buses that take passengers through the main attractions located in the heart of the city. A trip to Dharavi, Asia’s biggest slum, would be a unique experience for any traveller to see a contrasting way of life.

For nature and wildlife lovers, a safari through the wilderness of Sanjay Gandhi National Park is a refreshing experience. Adlabs Imagica, located in Khopoli, nearly on the outskirts of Mumbai, is an adventure lover’s paradise consisting of theme parks, water parks and snow parks that are ready to get your adrenaline pumping.

Mumbai is a confluence of global flavours that will tantalize any palate. Juhu and Chowpatty beach are great street food options that are easy on the wallet. Parsi cafés offer an authentic taste of Iranian cuisine in cozy, heritage-style architecture that can be found in and around Colaba and Fort.

The Bohri Kitchen is a unique dining experience that serves up delectable home-cooked food of the Bohra Community. Mughlai specialities can be best enjoyed at Khyber, Bademiya and Gulshan-e-Iran. Prithvi Café, Kala Ghoda Café and Le 15 Pâtisserie, are all-time favourites for a light snack or a mesmerizing meal.

Fashion Street, Colaba Causeway, Mangaldas Market, Bandra Linking Road and Hill Road are the best street shopping destinations that offer great pieces at great prices. The stretch of Crawford Market and Lokhandwala street sell every item you may have heard of and are great places for bargain hunters.

To get your hands on some precious stones and jewellery, you can head over to Zaveri Bazaar. Chor Bazaar showcases some of the best vintage and antique items available in the market and it will literally take you on a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

The veins of the city, Mumbai locals are a must if you want to experience the Mumbaikar life. There are local train stations conveniently located throughout the city with a train running every 10 minutes. If you do manage to get a footing into the local trains (especially during peak hours), it is one of the most convenient methods to navigate the city. For an air-conditioned commute, metros and monorails can be availed though they are not as far reaching as the locals.

If trains are not your preferred means of travel, you can hail cab services like Ola and Uber or the famous ‘kaali-peeli’ taxis, buses, and auto rickshaws.

There are a host of tourist places to visit in Chennai. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mahabalipuram is known for its great monuments, cave sanctuaries, sculptures, and stone-carvings. Thousand Lights Mosque is known for the beautiful outline it creates after nearly a thousand oil lamps are lit up and is also one of the biggest mosques in India.

The Vivekananda House where Swami Vivekananda stayed for a short period of time, has all the information about him, and also includes 3D shows and meditation halls. The Madras War Cemetery was built in honour of the 855 martyrs who lost their lives fighting during the Second World War and adds to the historical importance of Chennai.

The longest beach in India, Marina Beach is a 13 km stretch of serenity and has an aquarium, icehouse, and some iconic stone statues. The Government Museum has an extensive collection of bronze statues right from the 7th century.

The cultural hub of Chennai, the neighborhood of Mylapore is a religious haven which houses hundreds of (and some very famous) temples, churches and mosques, and is also known for its South-Indian delicacies and is definitely worth a visit. Fort St. George marked the beginning of an originally uninhabited Madras and served as a nucleus through which Madras grew into a city.

Chennai is every foodie’s fantasy. Here, you will find flavours from all over the world to indulge in. Some tantalizing places to start off with are Madras Kitchen Company, Willows Lounge Bar, Avartana, The Cheroot Malt & Cigar Lounge and The Reef. For meals that are easy on the eyes and the budget, you can visit Paprika, Broken Bridge Café and Absolute Barbecue.

For those who like to taste the oriental side, head over to Pan Asian, Benjarong, Madras Pavilion, The Residency and Scallion. Sea Salt, Shree Mithai, Desi Klub, Thanjavur Military Hotel and Southern Street are popular destinations where you can dig into scrumptious street food.

Thyagaraya Nagar is the largest shopping district in Chennai with its specialty in Kanchipuram silk sarees, and huge jewelry stores among many other things. Pantheon Road sells superior quality cotton materials and garments at affordable prices.

George Town is one of the oldest areas of Chennai and offers some of the best local and more traditional items of the city and is great for really experiencing the culture of Chennai. Up north, Sowcarpet has a variety of North Indian inspired blend of garments, accessories, fabrics, etc. and is called the mini Rajasthan of Chennai.

Chennai offers several modes of transportation. Buses are the main or most popular mode of transportation in Chennai and the lowest priced one too, and the service runs several routes throughout the metropolitan. Private or shared auto rickshaws are also easily available. Chennai Metro Rail is a very efficient means of transportation, although it does not run throughout the city. It does, however, connect all the major transportation hubs.

Local trains run approximately every 15 minutes and are an excellent way to navigate the city. Private and pre-paid taxis, although less common, are available at major locations like airports, stations, etc.